Centre staff
Dr Simon Choppin
Sports engineering researcher
Phone 0114 225 4405
Email s.choppin@shu.ac.uk
Dr Simon Choppin is a sports engineering researcher at the Centre for Sports Engineering Research at Sheffield Hallam University, where he specialises in impact dynamics, high speed video and data modelling. His PhD at Sheffield University investigated tennis racket dynamics and involved working with the International Tennis Federation.
In 2006 he developed a novel 3D method of racket and ball tracking, which was used at a Wimbledon qualifying tournament. His subsequent paper, presented at the Tennis Science and Technology Conference 2007, was awarded the Howard Brody Award for outstanding academic contribution.
Simon is also a keen science communicator and has taken part in several high profile events promoting the image of science and technology, he was awarded a British Science Association Media Fellowship in 2009 and worked with the Guardian newspaper for four weeks. As well as pursuing his research interests he works on a large project utilising neural network and genetic algorithm optimisation techniques. He edits and contributes to the CSER blog, Engineering Sport.
Background
- Graduated from the University of Nottingham in 2004 with a first class honours degree in Mechanical Engineering with Mathematics
- Completed a PhD at Sheffield University in 2008 in association with the International Tennis Federation, having been awarded the Howard Brody award for best paper at the 2007 Tennis Science and Technology Conference.
- Accomplished presenter, delivered a large number of lectures to a variety of different audiences including invited lectures overseas.
- Awarded a British Science Association Media Fellowship in 2009. This included a placement at the Guardian newspaper.
Skills
- Numerical modelling
- Machine learning
- High Speed video impact/trajectory analysis
- Global optimisation
- MATLAB programming
- Image processing
Research interests
- The nature of ball impacts and trajectories
- The use of machine learning in sport movement analysis
- The modeling of complex movement through mathematical models
Selected publications
Choppin, S. B, Goodwill, S, and Haake, S. (2011). Impact characteristics of the ball and racket during play at the Wimbledon qualifying tournament. Sports Engineering.
Choppin SB, Kelley J, Haake SJ. Generating Football Cd Profiles without a Wind Tunnel. In: The Engineering of Sport 8; 2010; Vienna, Austria; 2010.
Choppin SB, Goodwill SR, Haake SJ, Miller S. Ball and Racket Movement Recorded at the 2006 Wimbledon Qualifying Tournament. In: Estivalet M, Brisson P, editors. The Engineering of Sport 7; 2008; Biarritz, France: Springer; 2008. p. 563.
Choppin SB, Goodwill SR, Haake SJ, Miller S. 3D Player Testing at the Wimbledon Qualifying Tournament. In: Tennis Science and Technology 3; 2007; The International Tennis Federation, London, UK; 2007.
Choppin SB, Goodwill SR, Haake SJ, Miller S. 3D Player Testing Results from the Wimbledon Qualifying Tournament. In: Tennis Science and Technology Three; 2007; The International Tennis Federation, London, UK; 2007.
Choppin SB, Goodwill SR, Haake SJ. 3D Player testing in Tennis. In: The Engineering of Sport 6; 2006; Munich: Springer; 2006. p. 385-390.
Choppin SB, Whyld NM, Goodwill SR, Haake SJ. 3D Impact Analysis in Tennis. In: The Impact of Technology on Sport; 2005; Tokyo Institute of Technology; 2005. p. 373-378.
